Strade Bianche women 2026 | From Vollering to Ferrand-Prévot and Kopecky to Vos — they really are all here

Over the past four years, Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky have been playing leapfrog on the white roads. Vollering won last year and in 2023, while the Belgian took victory in 2024 and 2022. Both are back again this season, which tells you plenty about what to expect in Siena.

Unlike the Flemish races, the women in Italy finish before the men — so it’s an early alarm for viewers in Europe once again. But for Strade Bianche, that’s rarely a punishment.

2025 Demi Vollering
2024 Lotte Kopecky
2023 Demi Vollering
2022 Lotte Kopecky
2021 Chantal Van den Broek-Blaak
2020 Annemiek van Vleuten
2019 Annemiek van Vleuten
2018 Anna van der Breggen
2017 Elisa Longo-Borghini
2016 Lizzie Deignan

The distance remains broadly similar to recent years at 133 kilometres, and — as with the men — the women ride the final loop twice, with Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe as the key selectors. The finish, of course, is the same iconic one: the steep drag into the Piazza del Campo in Siena.

The elite women’s race includes roughly 33 kilometres of gravel, spread across 11 sectors that are also used in the men’s event. After the third sector in Radi, the route heads through Buonconvento and along the Via Cassia toward Monteroni d’Arbia, where the long San Martino in Grania sector begins — 9.5 kilometres of gravel.

A relatively manageable paved section then takes the race to Monteaperti, where the course links up with the men’s route for the decisive finale. Immediately afterwards comes a short but brutal gravel ramp of 600 metres with gradients above 10%, before the roads turn back to tarmac in Vico d’Arbia and the finishing circuit begins.

On that circuit, Colle Pinzuto (2.4 km, up to 15%) is central, followed by the Tolfe sector (1.1 km), featuring a steep descent and an even steeper kick up at 18%. The peloton tackles both climbs twice.

The final kilometres run on wider roads outside Siena, with long straights and sweeping bends — first downhill and then gradually rising — before the last two kilometres turn into the familiar fight for position ahead of the final, very steep ramps into the Piazza del Campo.

Weather
It has been bright across Europe in recent weeks, and that points to a dusty Strade Bianche: little rain is expected in Italy. Saturday should be around 17°C, with no major wind forecast.

Times:
Start: 10:15 AM
Finish: around 2 PM

What a line-up, first of all. Based on the last four years, two riders still stand out: Demi Vollering (FDJ–SUEZ) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx–Protime). Both have won Strade Bianche twice, and on Saturday they can chase a third victory on the white roads.

Vollering has already won the Tour of Valencia and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this season, while Kopecky had bad luck and couldn’t contest the finale in Ninove. Both teams also have depth: FDJ–SUEZ can play cards like Juliette Berthet and Elise Chabbey, while SD Worx–Protime bring options too — including Anna van der Breggen, runner-up last year.

Visma | Lease a Bike can also throw plenty into the mix, as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Marianne Vos begin their 2026 road seasons after an altitude build-up on Teide. Ferrand-Prévot finished third last year, and she — like Vos — has the kind of cross-discipline experience that can translate very well to a chaotic, technical gravel race like this.

The list doesn’t stop there. Fenix–Premier Tech leader Puck Pieterse has shown strong legs at Strade more than once. Along with Kasia Niewiadoma, Elisa Longo Borghini and Kimberly Le Court (AG Insurance–Soudal Quick-Step), she sits in a very solid group of challengers.

And even then, we’re not done: world champion Magdeleine Vallieres and Tour Down Under winner Noemi Rüegg line up for EF, Movistar bring Liane Lippert, Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv Jayco AlUla) has already shown good form, while Lidl–Trek can lean on the cyclo-cross pedigree of Shirin van Anrooij and Lucinda Brand.

Top favorites: Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Outsiders: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM), Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) and Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE ADQ)
Long shots: Kimberly Le Court (AG Insurance Soudal Quick-Step), Liane Lippert (Movistar), Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike), Noemi Ruegg, Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Juliette Berthet (FDJ-Suez), Silvia Persico (UAE ADQ), Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) and Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv Jayco AlUla)

Just like previous editions, the organisers have scheduled the women’s race before the men’s event. That means we get the full finale of the women’s race live on TV. Eurosport and Sporza will broadcast from 11:45/12:00 CET, via Eurosport 1, HBO Max and VRT 1.